Current Project

Ethiopia Transform: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Adapting (MELA)

Project Overview

Provide and synthesize high-quality monitoring and evaluation data to guide the US Government (USG) and Government of Ethiopia (GOE) in adaptive learning and management of its reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) portfolio.

Client: USAID/Ethiopia

Countries: Ethiopia

Region: East Africa

Project Description

The Transform: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Adapting (MELA) project provides and synthesizes high-quality monitoring and evaluation data for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ethiopia, which will guide the U.S. government (USG) and Government of Ethiopia (GOE) in adaptive learning and management of its reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) portfolio. Learning generated from the analytical work produced by the project will provide strategic information for programmatic decision-making. The decisions resulting from the utilization of data produced by this activity will improve accountability through the effective use of USG resources for the greatest public health impact. The MELA project also focuses on building local monitoring and evaluation capacities of Transform Implementing Partners, GoE, and local M & E partner organizations through a “learn by doing approach”.

The GOE has made remarkable progress in improving access to basic health services for millions of Ethiopians. While there have been significant improvements, the population as a whole still has limited access to clean water and sanitation and quality health services, and is characterized by low levels of literacy and persistent food insecurity. These factors, among others, contribute to a high incidence of communicable diseases including TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and respiratory infections, as well as nutritional deficiencies, maternal, neonatal, and child mortality. By developing indicators consistent with internationally-recognized good practices and providing and synthesizing high-quality monitoring and evaluation data to identify, build upon, and utilize local resources for increasing the capacity of the GOE to use data for strategic decision-making, TMG aids USAID/Ethiopia in achieving key results in its RMNCH portfolio. Ultimately, the Transform: MELA design operationalizes USAID’s Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD) initiative ensuring that USAID’s investments in health are focused on data-driven, high-impact interventions that will have the greatest impact on accelerating maternal and child death reductions. It is anticipated that decisions resulting from the utilization of data produced by this activity will improve accountability through the effective use of USG resources for the greatest public health impact.

Key Accomplishments

Conducted M&E Capacity Assessment/Selection of Transform: MELA Local Partners: After a rigorous capacity assessment was completed, four key local partners were selected by Transform: MELA and approved by USAID/Ethiopia.

Baseline Survey: Tasks completed in support of the baseline survey: 1) Designed the Transform program baseline survey; 2) Developed the overall scope of work (SOW) for the survey; 3) Collected Transform: IPs (WASH, PHC, and HDR) data and information needs; 4) Harmonized key Transform program indicators that will be benchmarked during the baseline study; and 5) Developed survey methodology and data collection tools